Dressing room forming structure



July 5,1938. J, L, D KES 2,122,681

DRESSING ROOM FORMING STRUCTURE Filed July 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jul 5, 1938. J, G DYKE 2,122,681

DRESSING ROOM FORMING STRUCTURE Filed July 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 5, 1938 PATENT OFFiCE DRESSING ROOM FORMING STRUCTURE John L. G. Dykes, Chicago, 111., assignor of onehalf to John Bruce Allen, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 15, 1936, Serial No. 90,682

6 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to dressing room forming structures. More particularly the invention relates to that type of structure which is in the form of an accessory for an automobile and is adapted when in its operative position, to form a dressing room at one side of the automobile.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved structure of this type which is of knockdown character and is designed to hold one of the doors of the automobile in its open position so that access may be had thereto from the interior of the automobile.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dressing room forming structure of the type under consideration which comprises a pair of sides, a front, top, and bottom, so that it serves to form a closed dressing room.

7 Another object of the invention is to provide a dressing room forming structure of the last mentioned character in which the lower portions of the front and sides are of such length that the bottom is adapted to rest on the ground and to accommodate or adapt itself to any unevenness of ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a knock-down dressing room forming structure of the type and character under consideration in which the front has a vertically extending slit therein which is closed by a hookless fastener and serves when the fastener is in its open position to provide access to the dressing room from the'outside of the automobile with which the structure is used.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a dressing room forming compartment which can be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost and is adapted when not in use and in its knock-down position to be stored in a compartment under the running board of the autoof the invention and is adapted primarily for use in connection with an automobile of the four-door sedan type;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a structure which embodies a second form of the invention and is adapted primarily for use in connection with an automobile of the two-door variety;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the structure of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view showing the manner in which the inner margins of the top and sides of the structure of Figures 3, 4 and 5 are constructed so that they are connectible to the body of the automobile;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 7-1 of Figure 3; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing the manner in which the door side of the struc ture of Figures 3, 4 and 5 is adapted to be attached or connected to the door.

The structure which is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings constitutes one embodiment of the invention and is adapted for use in connection with an automobile A of the so-called fourdoor sedan variety. The automobile A is of standard or conventional design, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, and comprises a chassis supported body B having at one side thereof a side wall b, and front door b a rear door b and a running board b The front door 19 is connected by hinges at the front end thereof to the side wall I) and is adapted when in its open position to provide access to the front seat of the automobile through the medium of a front door opening b in the side wall I). The rear door 12 is hinged at its rear and and when swung into its open position provides access to the rear seat of the body B of the automobile A. The running board b extends lengthwise of and projects outwardly from the bottom portion of the side wall I) and underlies the two doors b and W.

The structure which is shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the automobile A is adapted to form a dressing room at one side of the automobile. It is of knock-down character and comprises a top 9, a front It], a pair of sides II, a bottom l2 and a back l3. The top 9 is formed of rubberized fabric, canvas or any other suitable waterproof material and is designed to fit over and extend between the top portions of the doors b and b when the latter are in their open position. The

or slots 2| are formed in the sides in order to mobile so that the bottom inner margin of the top 9 is turned or folded upwards to form a flap It. This flap is adapted to fit against the inner face of the portion of the side wall I) of thebody which defines the upper portions of the door openings, and embodies eyelets I whereby it may be detachably secured in place by snap fasteners It. A metallic bar ll underlies and is suitably secured to the outer margin of thetop 9. This bar, as shown in Figure 2, is adapted to fit against and extend between the upper outer corners of the doors b and b and serves when in its operative position to hold the doors in their open position. The

front 10 is formed of the same material as the top'9. It is adapted when the structure is in its assembled position to extend between the outer margins of the doors b and b and to form with the top, bottom, and sides a dressing room it. The upper margin of the front II! is stitched or otherwise secured to the outer margin of the top 9 and depends or hangs downwardly from the bar I1. A vertically extending slit H! is formed in the central portion of the front and extends from the upper margin of the top to the bottom margin. This slit forms a doorway whereby access may be had to the dressing room is and is adapted normally to be closed by a hookless fastener 20. The sides I! of the. structure are formed of the same material as the top and front, that is of rubberized fabric, canvas, or like flexible material, and are adapted to fit against the outer faces of the doors. They are shaped conformably to the doors, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and have the upper margins thereof attached to the side margins of the top and their outer margins attached or stitched to the side margins of the front. The bottom portions of the sides project downwards beneath the running board b of the automobile body B and are coextensive with the bottom portion of the front 10. Apertures receive and accommodate the handles for the doors b and U The bottom I2 is formed of sheet metal, is adapted to rest on the ground beneath and to one side of the running board 22 and has an upturned marginal flange 22. The side portions of this flange are connected to the bottom margins of sides I! of the structure and the front portion of the flange is connected by rivets or any other suitable means to the bottom portion of the'structure front Iii. of the front and sides of the structure that are disposed beneath the running board are longer than the distance between the running board and the bottom portions of the wheels of the autol2 of the structure will always rest on the ground regardless of any unevenness of the latter.

The back H of the structure, like the sides, and front, is formed of rubberized fabric or canvas. It is connected to and extends between the lower inner marginal portions of the sides and extends'upward from the inner portion of the upturned flange 22 of the metallic bottom l2 to a point directly beneath the running board b of the automobile body. The upper margin of the back is doubled over to form a downturned flap 23 which laps an upturned flange 24 on a horizontally extending plate 25 and constitutes a suspension means for the structure back It. The plate 25 is positioned beneath and in spaced relation with respect to the running board 19 and forms with the running board 13 a compartment 26 in which the dressing room forming structure may be kept when in its knocked down position.

The portions The space between the outer portions of the running board and the plate constitutes the entrance to the compartment and this entrance is normally closed by means of a door 21 which is hinged to the upturned flange 24 on the plate 25 and is adapted to be retained in its closed position by means of a latch or like securing device (not shown).

Inassembling the dressing room' forming structure of Figures 1 and 2, the doors b and b of the automobile body are first swung into their open position. Thereafter the top 9 is placed across the top portions of the doors and the bar I! is inserted between the upper and outer corners of the doors so as to hold the doors apart. After properly positioning the bar [1, the flap I4 is positioned against the inner face of the top portion of the side wall I) of the automobile body and secured in place by the snap fasteners l6. After securing the top in place the sides ll of the structure are moved inwards into lapped relation with the doors b and b and the downturned flap 23 at the upper portion or margin of the'automobile A, they are extensible and permit the metallic bottom E2 to rest on the subjacent ground regardless of any unevenness thereof. When the structure is not in use it may be folded and stored in the plate-formed compartment 26. By reason of. the fact that the structure has sides and a front the dressing room I8 is essentially a closed compartment and offers suflicient privacy for dressin purposes. Because the bottom of the structure is adapted to rest on the ground and extends below the running board b a person when dressing, can sit on the running board with r his or her feet placed on the ground supported bottom l2.

The structure which is shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, of the drawings constitutes a second form or embodiment of the invention, and is adapted like the structure of Figures 1 and 2 to form a closed dressing room or compartment. It is of knock-down variety and as shown in Figure 3 is expressly designed for use in connection with an automobile A of the two-door variety. As shown in Figure 3, the automobile A is of standard or conventional design and embodies a body B having at one side thereof a side wall b with a door Z2 and a running board h between the fenders or mud guards thereof. The door 12 is hinged at the rear portion thereof and when in its open position permits of access to the interior of'the body B The structure for the two-door automobile A comprises a top 28, a front 29, a pair of sides 30 and 3!, a bottom 32, and a back 33. The top is formed of canvas, rubberized fabric or any other suitable flexible water-proof material and is designed to fit over and extend forwardly from the top portion of the door Z1 when the latter is in its open position. The inner margin of the top 23 is turned or folded upwards to form a flap 34 which is adapted to fit against the inner face of the portion of the side wall b of the bo'dy -B which defines the door opening, and embodies eyelets 35 whereby it may be detachably secured in place by means of snap fasteners '36 on said side wall 11 The rear side margin of the-top is adapted to overhang the top edge of the door 19 and thefro'nt side margin of the top is adapted-when the structure is in its assembled" position to be supported by means of a rod 3'i Ihis-rod, as shown in Figure 5, underlies and is -shaped-'conform'ably to the front side marginof the'topi The inner end of the rod is "'provided'=with ahook 38 whereby it may be interlocked with-a socket-39 in'the portion of the 'i de-wall ofthe body which defines the upper frond-corner of the door opening. The outer endo'f t'he-rod3|-is supported by means of a vertically-extending, extensible rod 40, and is held -in space'd relation with respect to the door w by means of a horizontally extending rod 4|. The 'rod' 4D consists of a pair of axially aligned teles'copic'sections 40 and-40? which are normally '-urged apart by means of a compression spring" 42in the section 40*. The outer end of the rod '3'|-'embodies a depending pin 43 which fits-within 'a-'socl 'et 44 in the section 40% of the rod 40. The rod 4| underlies the outer margin of "thetop 28 and is detachably secured at its front end to the rod3'l. The rear end of the rod 4-l embodies a pin 45 which is adapted to fit within a-socketdnot shown) in the upper outer corner of the'door Z2 when'the structure is in its assembled position. "The front 29 is formed of the same material as the top 28 and is adapted when the structure is in its assembled position to extend between the front edge of the door D and-the rod 40 and serves to form with the top, bottom, sides and back a closed dressing room 46. The upper margin of the front is stitched or otherwisesecured to the inner margin 28 and depends or'hangs downwardly from the rod 4|. A vertically extending slit 41 isformed in the central portionof the front 29 and extends from the rod'-4|' tothe bottom'32. As shown in Figure'5, thisslit forms a door-waywhereby access may be'had to the'dressing room 46, and is adapted normally to be closed by a hookless fastener 48. The side 30 is formed for the most part of the same material as the top 28 and the front 29 and-is adapted when the structure is in its ajssemble'dposition to coact with the door 11 and form the rear side wall for the dressing room-46. The upper central portion of the side -3Uis provided with a polygonal frame 49 of U- shap'ed'for channeled cross-section. This frame is formed of rubber or like elastic material and is adapted to encircle or surround the marginal flange of the door 12 as shown in Figure 7. By employing the frame 49 the door D of the automobile assists the side 30 in forming the rear sidewall of-the dressing room 48. By raising or lowering the usual glass panel in the automobile door. the dressing room may be closed or ventilated as desired. The side 3| of the structure forms the front side wall of the dressing room 48. It is formed throughout of the samematerial as the top and front of the structure and is stitched orotherwi-se secured at its upper margin to the front side margin of the top 28. The front side margin of the side'3l is suitably connected to the front side margin of the front 29 and "laps the rod49. The inner margin of the side 3| is bent outwards and forms a flap 5|! which is adapted to fit against the inner face of the portion of the side wall 12 of the body B which defines the front portion of the door opening, and embodies eyelets 5| whereby it maybe detachably secured in place by snap fasteners 52 on the side wall b the sides 30 and 3| project downwards beneath the running board 12 of the automobile body B and are coextensive with the bottom portion of the front 29. The bottom 32 is in the form of a sheet metal pan and embodies an upturned marginal flange 53, the front portion of which is riveted or otherwise secured to the bottom margin of the front 29 and the side portions of which are suitably secured to the lower bottom. margins of the sides 30 and 3|. The bottom portions of the front and sides of the structurethat is, the portions that are disposed beneath the running board I), are longer than the distance between the running board and the bottom portion of the wheels of the automobile A A5 a result, the bottom 32 is adapted to rest on the ground and automatically adapts itself to any unevenness or irregularity. The'back 33, like the top 28, the front 29, and the side wall 3|, is formed of rubberized fabric or canvas. It is connected to and extends between the lower inner marginal portions of the sides 30 and 3| and extends upwardly from the inner portion of the upturned flange 53 of the bottom 32 to a point directly beneath the running board 11 The upper margin of the back is doubled over to form a downturned flap 54 which laps an upturned flap 55 on a horizontally extending plate 56. The plate 56 is the same-in design as the plate 25 and forms with the running boardb a compartment 5! for use in storing the structure when it is in its knocked-down position.

In assembling the dressing room forming structure of Figures 3 to 7 inclusive, the door 12 is first swung into its open position. Thereafter the frame 49 is sprung around the marginal flange of the door so as to secure the side 30 in place with respect to the door 13 After mounting of the frame 49 around the door, the rods 31, 40 and. 4| are assembled. The rod 31 is assembled by inserting the hook 38 in the socket 29 and inserting the 'pin 43 into the socket 44 in the section 40 of the rod 40. The rod 40 is assembled or connected in place by first connecting the front end thereof to the outer end of the rod 31 and then inserting the pin 45 into the socket in the upper outer corner of the door 17 After assembly of the rods 31, 40 and 4| the top 28 is placed over the rods 31 and 4 I, and the front 29 and the side 3| are shifted into place. The top 28 is secured in place by snapping the eyelets 35 over the snap fasteners 36 and the side 3| is fixedly secured in its operative position by placing the eyelets 5| over the snap fasteners 52. After assembly of the structure access may be had to the dressing room 46 either by way of the door opening in the side wall b of the body of the automobile A or via the slit 41. The room may,if desired, be ventilated by lowering the glass panel which serves as the window for the door U When the structure is not in use it may be folded into its knocked-down position and stored in the compartment over the plate 56.

The herein described dressing roomforming structures are simple in design and may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

This application is a continuation in part of an The bottom portions of a0: ground and having an upstanding marginal application for'Letters Patent for improvements in automobiles, filed by me December 14,, 1935,

Serial Number 54,401.

thefirst mentioned side, a top connected to and extending between the upper margins of the two sides, a front depending from the outer margin of the top and extending between and connected to theouter side margins of said two sides, a bottom adapted to rest on the ground and connected to the bottom margins of the sides and front, and a short back connected to the rear portion of the bottom and the lower rear margins of the sides and adapted to close the space between the bottom and a portion of the automobile beneath said one door.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a knockdown structure adapted to coact with one of the doors of an automobile body to form a dressing room outside of and in communication with the body, and comprising a pair of laterally spaced sides formed of readily flexible material and adapted one to fit against the door when the latter is open and the other to extend in abutting relation to the automobile body, a top of the same material as the sides connected to and extending between the upper margins of the sides, a front of the same material as the sides depending from the outer margin of the top and extending between and connected to the outer margin of the sides, a rigid bottom connected to the bottom margins of the sides and front and adapted to rest on the ground, and a comparativeiy short back of the same material as the sidestop and back connected to the bottom portion of the bottom and the lower portions of the inner side margins of the sides and serving to close the space between the bottom and a portion of the automobile beneath said one door.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a knockdown structure adapted to coact with one of the doers of an automobile body to form a dressingroom outside of and in communication with the body, and comprising a pair of sides formed of readily flexible water-proof materiai and adapted to extend one against said one door of the automobile body when the door is in its open position and the other in spaced relation with said one side and in abutting relation with respect to the automobile body, a top of the same material as the sides connected to and extending between the upper members of the two sides'and provided with means at the inner margin thereof whereby it may be detachably connected to the portion of the body which defines the top of the door opening for said one door, a front of the same material as said sides depending from the outer margm of the top and extending between and connected to the outer side margins of the sides, and a metallic bottom adapted to rest upon the flange attached to the bottom margins of the 7 sides and front.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a knockdown structure adapted to coact with one of the doorsof an automobile body to form a dressing room outside of and in communication with the body, and comprising a pair of sides formed of readily flexible water-proof material and adapted to extend one against said one door of the automobile body when the door is in its open position and the other in' spaced relation with said oneside and in abutting relation withrespeet to the automobile body, a top of the same material as the sides connected to and extending between the upper members of the two sides and provided with means at the inner margin thereof whereby it may be detachably connected to the portion of the body which defines the'top of the door opening for said one door, a front of the same material as said sides extending downwards from the outer margin of the. top and between the outer side margins of the sides and having a substantially vertical slit extending substantially from the top thereof to the bottom and forming a doorway for the room, a metallic bottom adapted to rest upon the ground and having an upstanding marginal flange attached to the bottom margins 0f the sides and front, and a back connected to and extending upwardly from the rear portion of said marginal flange of the bottom and adapted to close the space between the bottom and the portion of the automobile beneath the opening for said one door.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a knockdown structure adapted to coact with one of the doors of an automobile body to form a dressing room outside of and in communication with the body, and comprising a pair of sides formed of readily flexible water-proof material and adapted to extend one against said one door of the automobile body when the door is in its open position and the other in spaced relation with said one side and in abutting relation'with respect to the automobile body,a top of the same material as the sides connected to and extending between-the upper members of the two sides and provided with meansat the inner margin thereof whereby it may be detachably connected to the portion-of the bodywhich defines the top of the door opening for said one door, a front of the same material as said sides extending downwards from the outer margin of the tap and between the outer side margins'oi the sides and having a substantially vertical slit extending substantially from the top thereof to the bottom and forming a doorway for the room, and a rigid bottom connected to the bottom margins of the'sides and front and adapted to rest on the ground, said lower portions of the sides and front being of such length that they have an accordion formation therein and permit the bottom to adapt itself to uneven ground.

6. In combination with an automobile body having a door at one side thereof, a knock-down structure adapted when the door is in its open position to hold it in said position and coact therewith to form a dressing room in communication with the interior of the body, and comprising a pair of sides, a front and a vertically mov= able ground engaging bottom.

JOHN L. G. DYKES. 

